Saudi artists seen 'pushing' boundaries

Artists in Saudi Arabia are pushing boundaries as the kingdom undergoes rapid change and tries to boost its cultural offerings, a Saudi artist who has exhibited worldwide said.

Traditions run deep in the country which critics say lacks both an infrastructure for the arts, and the freedom of expression to allow art to flourish.

But Ahmed Mater, 37, calls the kingdom's artists "brave", although he says they need to show still more confidence and receive greater support.

"You know everything (is) changing now, life changing, artists pushing borders more and more", he told AFP on the sidelines of the Unesco NGO Forum which ended Thursday in Riyadh.

Under wide-ranging economic and social reforms that began last year, Saudi Arabia said it would develop a Royal Arts Complex, as well as a Media City.

A new General Entertainment Authority has already supported concerts, a Comic-Con pop culture festival and other events.

In January the kingdom's highest-ranking cleric, Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, warned of the "depravity" of cinemas and music concerts, partly because they represent a "call for mixing between sexes".

Saudi Arabia bans cinemas, although private film showings do take place and small art exhibitions have occurred.

Mater, a former physician, runs a "creative hub" studio in the Red Sea city of Jeddah which is relatively more liberal than the capital Riyadh.

Last year he published a photographic essay, "Desert of Pharan", documenting Holy City of Makkah, Islam's holiest site which has undergone rapid urbanisation.

The work has been published internationally and Mater said it "should be approved soon" in Saudi Arabia.

"Creating change through art is something marvellous," he told the forum organised with the MiSK Foundation, which Mater says has supported cultural projects in the kingdom.